[Guest Film Review] "Peppermint Candy"2016/07/23,
One of the films that established the progress of the contemporary S. Korean cinema, "Peppermint Candy" was one of the most commercially successful films of 2000, and screened in many festivals around the world, winning a plethora of awards both locally and internationally.
The story actually starts with Yong-ho's suicide, and then moves, in segments, backwards in time, in order to present the reasons that led him to this extreme act,...More

[HanCinema's Videography] "King of Pigs": Violence2015/07/19,
There are many ways to comment on and cite literature, but moving images are harder to handled and quote. The history of cinematic thinking has long been tied to the shadow of literary concerns, taking its terms, theories and filtering them through audiovisual cues back to typographical symbols. Is there a way to articulate the themes, motifs, moments and magic found within films without relying on the power of the written word?,...More

Won Bin and Lee Na-young tied the knot in secret2015/05/30, Source,
On May 30, actor Won Bin, 38, and actress Lee Na-young, 36, were married through a private wedding ceremony in Jeongseon, Kangwon-do, where only family members attended.
Won Bin and Lee Na-young's agency, Eden Nine said, "Today (May 30), the two loving lifetime partners made their very first step together on a small unnamed trail midst a wheat field in Kangwon-do" and "After the wedding ceremony, they set an iron cast pot in the middle of the field and shared warm noodles with their family members",...More

Won Bin may come back soon as discussion for his next work has begun2015/01/25, Source,
Whether or not actor Won Bin may come back this year from the five year break has been drawing attention. It is because he started discussing with a few film producers since the end of last year.
According to a source from movie industry on January 25th, Won Bin resumed in-depth discussions about offers received from several movies. The offers include a period drama as well as an action blockbuster such as spy films,...More

[HanCinema's Hall of Fame Review] "Mozart Town": A Daring and Dreamy Debut2014/06/28, In the Spotlight this Week:Jeon Kyu-hwan's "Mozart Town":
Life in a metropolis can be unforgiving and cruel. The buildings are imposing and the diversity of being is impressive, if not uncomfortably humbling; and it becomes all too easy, perhaps even necessary, to go about one's business bearing blinders and minding your own matters. But collisions are inevitable, uncomfortable and random, and sometimes--if the conditions are just right--multiple lives merge and travel together for a time, only to eventually fork off out into the cityscape.
Enter "Mozart Town", a discerning debut that poetically peels back the concrete curtains of big city life to reveal, for better or worse, life under the log. These 'Humans of Seoul' that are found wriggling, are put under Jeon's lens and followed, their dreary existence exposed, and their flaws magnified under the leering light of cinematic attention and focus,...More

[HanCinema's Image Gallery] Lee Chang-dong's "Poetry"2014/03/22, A selection of stills from Lee Chang-dong's "Poetry"…
This award-winning piece of cine-magic explores the final chapter of one chic granny in search of inspiration and beauty. It's a fitting addition to director Lee Chang-dong's short, yet stunning, filmography and is arguably one of his greatest efforts. "Poetry" won a number of awards both locally and abroad, including Best Screenplay at the Cannes Film Festival, and remains a heartfelt masterpiece of modern Korean cinema. Enjoy! [spoilers],...More

[HanCinema's Hall of Fame Review] "Poetry": Empathetic Cinema at its Finest2014/03/22, In the Spotlight this Week:Lee Chang-dong's "Poetry"...
The American writer and poet Maya Angelou once said: "There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you". In "Poetry", Lee Chang-dong's last film, this affliction is brought to bear on an aging soul who so desperately searches for meaning, peace, and poetry. Lee's short filmography is impressive, and reflects the wills of a storyteller who seeks the substance behind mere matters and modern mayhem. His compelling ruminations are romantic and robust; graphic poems that present hardships and hope in visual verses that demand both our attention and praise. This award-winning film drew inspiration from a real-world rape case in Korea, a Japanese television program on nature, and, of course, Lee's own storytelling genius and acute appreciation of the human condition,...More

[HanCinema's Hall of Fame Review] "Oasis": Sunlight Doves in the Eye of a Storm2014/01/11, In the Spotlight this Week:"Oasis" by Lee Chang-dongLee Chang-dong's short filmography contains some of the most potent and honest insight into South Korea's consciousness around. His films explore the cultural, social, and political fears and dreams of a nation and blankets them in individual instances that resonant deep and true. "Oasis" was the last film this storytelling Sinatra produced before accepting his term as Korea's Minister of Culture; an award-winning piece that reunites the talent duo of Moon So-ri and Seol Kyeong-gu from his politically charged and praised drama: "Peppermint Candy" (1999). "Oasis" examines the lives of two mentally impaired individuals and the crippling gaze cast upon them from their families and society at large. It's an atypical romance that is as beautiful to behold as it is uncomfortable to absorb, an empathetic exploration into two young minds that are fumbling around in the dark for that crazy little thing called love,...More

[HanCinema's Image Gallery] "Oasis"2014/01/11,
A selection of shots from Lee Chang-dong's third feature: "Oasis"Lee Chang-dong has a short and potent filmography filled with heartfelt characters and intense events that you won't soon forget. "Oasis" tells the story of a mentally handicapped young man (Seol Kyeong-gu) and his relationship with a woman who has severe cerebral palsy (Moon So-ri). The film won a string of awards locally, and was honoured at the 2002 Venice Film Festival with the Best Actress and Best Director awards.
The following gallery contains a selection of shots and comments from Lee's third film: "Oasis" (2002) - To Remember, Share, and Enjoy! [spoiler],...More

[HanCinema's Hall of Fame Review] "Secret Sunshine": Soul Food for Thought2013/12/14, In the Spotlight this Week: "Secret Sunshine" by Lee Chang-dong
Life can be really tough going, gruelling and cruel. Changes in career, a death in the family, and relocating are some of the biggest stressors a human being can expected to endure in the name of life. In "Secret Sunshine", cine-poet Lee Chang-dong tackles these hard-hitting events and asks what someone might have to do to support a truly troubled soul experiencing these major life forks. We can empathise, we can befriend, we can lie to them and tell it's all going to be okay, but sometimes we just need to be patient and follow them as they trudge through the pain. Lee's films have a remarkable spirit about them, a humanist honesty that don't force change, push healing, or prescribe artificial catalysts for growth. In "Secret Sunshine" Lee winds up a tragic heroine as tight as you can imagine, then watches her march off down an uneven road with only a shadowing mechanic to love her unconditionally along the way,...More

Korean actresses no longer pretend to be pretty, weak, ingenuous2013/11/11, Source,
Korean actresses have changed. They are giving up pretending to be pretty, weak and ingenuous.
Kim Seon-ah, model-turned actress who is 170 centimeters (near six feet) tall plays the role of a woman paralyzed from waist down in the movie "The Five" that will be released Thursday. Instead of showing off her slim legs, she rides an electric wheelchair with both legs tied up. A woman who lost her husband and daughter by a murderer, she is a vengeful person. To show such emotions, Kim has disheveled hair, and her face is bruised since she fights with the murderer.
Jeon Do-yeon in "Way Back Home" plays a woman who is falsely accused of carrying drugs and is locked up in a jail in a foreign country. She doesn`t give off charm of a femme fatal. Ha Ji-won performs a swordsmanship action at "Chosun`s Angels" that will be released in early next year,...More

[New York] Press Conference with Korean directors2013/08/01, Source, ContemporAsian: Focus on Korea @ MoMA Thursday, August 8, 2013
From Monday, August 5th though Sunday, 11th, The Korea Society and MoMA (The Museum of Modern Art) co-presents 'Focus on Korea' as part of 'ContemporAsian' film series which presents many contemporary Asian films from pan-Asian countries. The series selects critically lauded Korean films, highlighting current social issues, injustice and human nature. The films maximize distinctive narrative skills from some of Korea's insightful and penetrative renegade filmmakers,...More

[HanCinema's Film Review] "Peppermint Candy"2013/03/08,
Yong-ho (played by Seol Kyeong-gu) is severely depressed. But he has no perception that he is depressed, nor does he seem to have any real idea as to the cause. It's not necessarily a matter of his being a bad person- though Yong-Ho is very much a loathsome human being. After awhile, the realization that he's about to make another decision just inspires a great deal of dread. Most of the other characters he meets would have been better off just giving up on him quickly. The ones who stick around just have more emotional pain as a reward,...More

[HanCinema's Interview Corner] Ten Questions for the KOREAN CINEPHILE2012/06/30, Your website, Modern Korean Cinema, has been up since mid-2010, how did you come to discover Korean cinema and what was it about Korea's film industry that really cemented your passion for it?
My first exposure to Korean cinema came long before the inception of MKC and it's kind of a funny story (at least I think it is)! When I was in boarding school in Dublin (high school) we were studying Macbeth and as a nascent cinephile I wanted to seek classic filmed versions of Shakespeare's work, first came Polanski's, then Orson Welles' version but soon I came across Kurosawa's "Throne of Blood" (1957) and fell in love with it. Thus began my discovery of Japanese cinema and one day I was in my local media retail store in Switzerland when I came across a striking DVD in the Asian section. I thought it might have been something like a Takashi Miike film but it turned out to be none other than "Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance" (2002) and... I hated it, it made me furious. But I couldn't stop thinking about it and a week later I forced my self to watch it again and my whole world changed. My next film was Lee Chang-dong's "Peppermint Candy" (2000) and it's safe to say that the quality and social engagement of those works resulted in my becoming deeply attached to Korean cinema,...More

Hollywood looks East with debut of korean film festival, June 23-242012/04/27, Source,
Grauman's to Host Korean Film Screenings, VIP Events and First-Ever Castings of Korean Talent
Hollywood, CA – An appreciation of all things Korean has swept into popular culture – from taekwondo to kalbi to K-pop – extending to a proliferation of film and television talent who trace their lineage to the Asian peninsula. This summer, Hollywood will offer an appreciation with the first Look East: Korean Film Festival, a celebratory weekend taking place Saturday & Sunday, June 23-24. Hyundai Motors serves as a Lead Festival sponsor of the festival,...More

Korean Film Festival DC Marks 8th Year with Film, Video Art, and Director Na Hong-jin2012/03/14, Source,
The Korean Film Festival DC, one of the largest showcases of Korean cinema in the United States, kicks off this week at the Smithsonian's Freer Gallery of Art in Washington DC. The 2012 edition of the festival, running throughout March, April, and into May, is spread over two months and combines 12 films, four video art exhibitions, two lecture events, and four post-film discussions with Korean director Na Hong-jin,...More

HAF feature interview with KIM Baek-jun, "Monsters"2012/03/11, Source,
Director KIM Baek-jun (born in 1970) is preparing his third film "Monsters" with production company JK Film ("Haeundae". The project's budget is set at about KW 800 million (US$711,000). He graduated from the Department of Theater and Film at Kyungsung University in Busan and worked as assistant director on films such as "Crazy First Love" (2003) and "Way To Go, Rose" (2005). He made his directorial debut with "My Dear Diary", which was invited to the Jeonju International Film Festival (JIFF) competition. His second feature "Farewell - 2011" was in the Butterfly competition at the Cinema Digital Seoul Film Festival (CinDi). "Monsters" will be taking part in the 10th Hong Kong - Asia Film Financing Forum (HAF) this month,...More

[HanCinema's Film Review] "Jesus Hospital": A Family in Crisis2012/03/10,
Films with blinding religious themes don't always capture my interest, especially when Christianity is being portrayed. Luckily though, Lee Sang-cheol and Shin A-ga's "Jesus Hospital" is in no way intrusive or preachy. It is a tale of family, more specifically; it's a generational story that makes uses of religion as an intangible thread between family members as one family struggles to re-stitch the divide between them. It's highly emotive, thematically driven, and memorable.
"Jesus Hospital" had its world premier at the 16th Busan International Film Festival and its two leading ladies (Hwang Jeong-min-I and Han Song-hee) claimed the festival's "DGK Award" for their efforts. It was also a crowd pleaser, walking away with the "Citizen Reviewers' Awards", which is shared with Park Hong-min's "A Fish" and "Romance Joe" by Lee Kwang-kuk. A couple months latter, the film was honoured at the 37th Seoul Independent Film Festival and was awarded the competitions Grand Prize,...More

Florence Korea Film Fest to open with Always2012/02/27, Source,
The 10th Florence Korea Film Fest in Italy has announced it will open with Song Il-gon's "Always", last year's Busan International Film Festival (BIFF) Opening Film. The festival will screen 32 feature films and 24 shorts during its nine-day run, and close with Kim Ki-duk's "ARIRANG - Movie", which made its world premiere at the Cannes Film Festival last year.
Set to run March 23 – 31 at the Cinema Odeon (Piazza Strozzi, 1) in Florence, the festival is organized by the Tae gukgi – Toscana Korea Association. Sponsors include Korea's Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the Korean Film Council (KOFIC), the region of Tuscany (Toscana), the city of Florence and the Film Institutions of Tuscany Region,...More

[HanCinema Korea's Diary] Incoming! Korean Blogathon 2012 almost here...2012/02/25,
Last year "New Korean Cinema" and "cineAWESOME!" took a leaf out of "WildGrounds"' Japanese Blogathon and kicked off the first Korean Blogathon. Their efforts paid off as the "2011 Korean Blogathon" generated one hundred and fifty posts from the fifty blogs that got involved and shared their thoughts on Korea's film industry. This year, the popular metablog is back and is hoping to build on the success and support of last year's stellar turnout,...More

Interview with critic and Beijing Film Academy professor HAO Jian2012/02/20, Source,
Film critic and Beijing Film Academy professor HAO Jian has written and talked about what he considers the little-known, real start of the Korean Wave in China. At the International Film Festival Rotterdam while serving on the Network for the Promotion of Asian Cinema (NETPAC) award jury, he spoke to Jean NOH about it and his thoughts on Korea-China cooperation.
KOBIZ: You've written and talked about how you think a certain Korean film festival at the Beijing Film Academy was really what started the popularity of Korean films in China. Tell us about that festival,...More

AmerAsia announces exciting 2012 lineup of categories2012/02/18, Source,
The AmérAsia Film Festival is proud to announce the five principle subcategories – Asian Treasures, Animation Spotlight, WeDistribute, Québécois Special and AmerAsia (AA) Shorts – for this third edition of Montreal's premiere festival celebrating the latest Asian and Asian-Canadian cinema, taking place on the first two weekends of March.
Asian Treasure
The full line-up of blockbuster Asian films that will screen over the course of the festival has been chosen from the best of the continent's creative talent. Oscar-nominated Chinese blockbuster Aftershock, the international premiere of Kyung-soon's "Red Maria", funny and moving major festival selection "The Day He Arrives" by director Hong Sang-soo, the Cannes award-winning "ARIRANG - Movie" by renowned Korean auteur Kim Ki-duk, Best Newcomer nominee at the 2012 Asian Film Awards I Wish, and Vietnamese director Cuong Ngo's captivating personal portraits in Pearls of the Far East will all feature,...More

Feature profile - Anesthesia2012/02/10, Source,
Headed for the Berlinale Shorts competition, student director KIM Souk-young talks with Jean NOH about her film "Anesthesia".
A student at the Korea National University of Arts' School of Film, TV and Multimedia, director KIM Souk-young will have"Anesthesia" competing in the Berlinale Shorts section. Based on a true story, the film takes place at a small private hospital where the doctor in charge is raping women patients after putting them under anesthesia,...More

From Korea with love2012/02/10, Source, Bangkok-based writer and critic Kong RITHDEE looks at the influence of Korean moving images in Thailand and gauges the depth of the Korean Wave.
In late January, So Ji-sub and Han Hyo-joo walked down the red carpet at HuaHin International Film Festival, the inaugural edition of the cinefest held in Thailand's popular resort town. Reporters gathered with high expectations, and the photos of the two Koreans were splashed across most newspapers the next day. "'Dong Yi' Star In Thailand!" screamed some of the headlines, referring to Han's famous TV series. So's and Han's new film"Always" opened in Bangkok the following weekend.
Ten years ago, it was unthinkable to see pictures of Korean movie stars on the pages of Thai national dailies. Of course things have changed, and Korea has implanted itself in the pop-consciousness of Thai audiences in a way that's culturally spectacular and plainly phenomenal,...More

CINEMA ON THE PARK Season 2 Announced!2012/01/22, Source,
The Korean Cultural Office in Sydney has just announced another exciting Season of Cinema on the Park, the film night that delighted audiences in 2011 will return once again in 2012. A surprise hit with more than 1,000 people attending, Thursday nights are now etched firmly on the Sydney cinema calendar as Korean night and will see 21 feature films and 14 guest speakers in the first half of the year alone, surely enough to satisfy anyone's appetite for Korean cinema!,...More

Lee Chang-dong's Poetry set for release in Japan2012/01/17, Source,
Korean auteur director Lee Chang-dong's film "Poetry" is set for release in Japan on Feb. 11, 2012. The Cannes Best Screenplay Award-winning film will be distributed by KinoEye Japan and Siglo, which released the film's Japanese poster and trailer today. The film's Japanese title translates to "Poetry: Agnes' Song".
"Poetry" stars veteran actress Yoon Jung-hee (also known as Yoon Jung-hee) as the grandmother of a troubled youth, learning to express herself through poetry. Her performance has won her many accolades including the Los Angeles Film Critics Association's Best Actress Award,...More

KoreanFilm.org's Top Korean films of 2011 by Darcy Paquet2012/01/14, Source,
Each year I assemble my top 10 list out of the Korean films that have been released in theaters over the previous 12 months. The small independent films that I catch at the Busan or Jeonju film festivals may not be released by December, but they generally do get a small commercial release within a year or two, so I can include them in a later list.This year, however, I came across a great film that may end up not getting a commercial release, so I squeezed it in where #10 would normally go. I was racking my brain over that #10 slot anyway,...More

Korean Cinema 2011: The View from Here2012/01/14, Source,
US-based author and curator of film at the Smithsonian's Freer and Sackler Galleries in Washington, DC, Tom VICK shares his views on recent trends he has noticed programming their Korean film festival.
How do you introduce new Korean films to an American audience? Since 2004, when I began programming the Korean Film Festival DC, the answer to this question has become more difficult to answer. This is not to say that it's harder to find good films. Quite the opposite. The problem (if it can be called a problem) is that there are so many films to choose from.The explosion of digital production and distribution in the last decade or so has made it easier than ever to make a film, but harder than ever find an audience for it,...More

Archive spotlights '60s literary films2011/12/19, Source,
(Above picture: Actress Yun Jeong-hie and Shin Sung-il in a scene from Kim Soo-yong's "Night Journey")
Cinephiles will have a rare chance to look at some of Korea's hallmark 1960s "literature films". The Korean Film Archive (KOFA) has released a DVD collection of masterworks by Kim Soo-yong, a leading filmmaker of the Golden Age.
Kim is renowned for adapting literary works to depict various aspects of contemporary life, adding to the richness of one of the most productive, artistically experimental decades in Korean cinema history,...More

Yoon Jung-hee wins LA Film Critics Award 2011/12/13, Source,
The 37th Annual Los Angeles Film Critics Association (LAFCA) Awards gave its Best Actress honor to Korea's Yoon Jung-hee for her performance in "Poetry". Directed by Lee Chang-dong, the film stars Yun as a dandy old lady who lives with her grandson and the inner awakenings she experiences as she starts to take a poetry class and the harsh realities she finds she has to face,...More

Bittersweet Life: Korean cinema's secret popularity in the UK2011/12/07, Source,
International distribution expert and analyst and former Screen International journalist Robert Mitchell looks at the gulf between artistic and business successes of Korean cinema in the UK.
Ask any cine-literate film-goer, critic, blogger or tweeter in the UK about Korean cinema and you'll be greeted with an enthusiastic response. They will talk of the Hallyu period of the past decade, a wealth of some of the most creative and interesting film-making in the world. They will speak with passion about Park Chan-wook, Kim Ki-duk and Bong Joon-ho.
International festivals like Cannes play a major role in building this awareness. "The route to the international market is through festivals", says Danny PERKINS, CEO of StudioCanal UK, which released Bong's "The Host" and Kim's "3-Iron" amongst other Korean titles. "If a director's film features in one of the bigger festivals it can put them and their work permanently on the map",...More

Doctor-filmmaker probes capitalist exploitation in medical world2011/11/29, Source, Song Yoon-hee, a medical doctor and filmmaker, speaks about her documentary "White Jungle", which looks into the darker side of health care in Korea. / Yonhap By Lee Hyo-won
A doctor has stepped up as an ombudsman for patients who cannot afford proper treatment due to what she calls the"capitalist exploitation of the medical word" and has made a movie to make sure her voice is heard.
"White Jungle" by occupational environmental physician Song Yoon-hee has been creating a buzz online, even before its theatrical release Thursday, as it documents the darker side of the current healthcare system,...More

[HanCinema's Film Review] The Sunny side of Memory Lane.2011/11/12,
How the past defines or shapes us as individuals and as a society is fascinating. Sometimes there's regret and longing, but there is also those memories that you wouldn't change for anything. "Sunny - 2010" falls into the latter of these retrospections. With its positive portrayal of moments past and hopeful future, "Sunny - 2010" is a true feel-good film that came out of nowhere to win hearts and minds. In "Sunny - 2010", a small group of seven girls hold onto their youthful spirit as they remember, relive, and move forward with their less than perfect lives with the sun on their backs and friends by their side,...More

'Reason' transmits social messages2011/11/10, Source, Song Hye-kyo appears in a scene from "A Reason to Live", a film that marks the return of director Lee Jeong-hyang. / Courtesy of Lotte Entertainment
By Ryu Seung-jin
It appears "A Reason to Live" has also succumbed to the so-called "BIFF curse" - films that premiere at the Busan International Film Festival (BIFF) have mostly failed on general release. The film's weighty theme of capital punishment and absolution may have deterred some moviegoers, but it also suffered from distribution problems. The few theaters that showed the film alternated screenings with other works,...More

Korea-Czech ties strengthening through cinema 2011/10/12, Source,
Julietta Sichel, right, former program director of the Czech Republic's Karlovy Vary International Film Festival, poses with veteran director Kim Kee-duk, left, after accepting the Korean Cinema Award during the 16th Busan International Film Festival, Oct. 7. / Courtesy of BIFF
Former Karlovy Vary Fest programmer receives award By Lee Hyo-won BUSAN - Arts and entertainment have the power to bridge distant cultures, and Korea has been enjoying creative exchanges with the Czech Republic. The 2005 television series "Lovers in Prague" starring Jeon Do-yeon popularized tour packages to the Central European country, while earlier this month the National Theatre Prague saw its international premiere of "The Makropulos Case" in Seoul. Contemporary Korean art exhibitions also drew crowds at the Prague National Gallery recently,...More

Actress duo hosts open new chapter for BIFF2011/10/07, Source,
BUSAN ― The 16th Busan International Film Festival made sure Thursday's opening gala showed that Asia's largest cinema event was beginning a new chapter.
Not only does the festival assume a new name, with the outdated Romanization "Pusan" changed to "Busan" ― but this year's event will be the first to be headed by Lee Yong-kwan after founding director Kim Dong-ho stepped down. Both men took part in the event, alongside Busan Mayor and festival chairman Hur Nam-sik,...More

Pan-Asian youth film school opens in Busan2011/10/03, Source,
A film academy inviting young aspiring filmmakers from across Asia began last week ahead of the opening Thursday of the Busan International Film Festival (BIFF). The Asian Film Academy (AFA) opened for the seventh time Thursday as part of the country's largest cinema event. This year's installment has invited 24 men and women from 17 countries to take part in workshops, master classes, mentoring sessions and other educational initiatives,...More

Toronto film festival takes Countdown2011/07/27, Source, by KOFIC staff
The 36th Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) has announced the first 50 films to be added to its line-up include the Korean film "Countdown", starring Jeong Jae-yeong and Jeon Do-yeon. Written and directed by newcomer Heo Jong-ho, the film will screen in TIFF's Special Presentations section.
One of the world's most prestigious film festivals and a noted gateway to the North American market, TIFF this year will be held Sept. 8 – 18. In the festival's Special Presentations section, Heo Jong-ho's "Countdown" will be in the company of other films such as Cameron Crowe's Pearl Jam Twenty, Francis Ford Coppola's Twixt, Pedro Almodovar's The Skin I Live In, and Wang XiaoShuai's 11 Flowers,...More

Isabelle Huppert "I want to work with Director Hong Sang-soo"2011/07/07, Source,
Attention is focused on famous French actress Isabelle Huppert's possibility of starring in a movie by director Hong Sang-soo and her statement that she wanted to be in one when she visited Korea last May.
When she was asked which director she wanted to work with from Korea at a press conference during her visit to Korea in May, she replied, "That's a question I've been waiting for. There is one person I would really like to work with".,...More

'Poongsan': a director's mission impossible2011/06/27, Source,
By Lee Hyo-won
"Poongsan", directed by emerging cineaste Juhn Jai-hong and produced by film maverick Kim Ki-duk, came in at box office No. 3 on its opening weekend, drawing over 280,000 viewers since last Thursday.
Impressive production values provide cashable entertainment, but it's difficult to imagine how the inter-Korean action film was actually made: 25 takes in just 30 days for scenes featuring wire action sequences and water stunts, CGI aplenty and music by top Hollywood talent - all on a budget of 200 million won ($185,580),...More

5th Annual Film Festival "Zerkalo"2011/06/11, Source,
S. Korean Director Park Jung-bum Wins "Best Featured Film" Award at Russian Film Festival for His Social Drama "Journals of Musan" at "Zerkalo"
By Lidia Okorokova Moscow Corespondent
S. Korean Director Park Jung-bum wins "Best Featured Film" Award at Russian Film Festival "Zerkola" in Moscow.
South Korean director Park Jung-bum won "Best featured film" award at the prestigious Russian film-festival "Zerkalo" (Mirror) named in honour of Russian director Andrei Tarkovsky, for his social drama "The Journals of Musan",...More

[HanCinema Korea's Diary] Introduce Yourself to Korean Cinema: 7 Films to Get You Started2011/05/28,
Are you interested in Korean cinema but don't know where to start? The following is a short list of films that I believe would give any film enthusiast a good grounding for what Korean cinema has to offer. They include award-winning films, films that provide insight into Korea's history and culture, as well as a couple of fantastic genre films that Korean cinema tends to favour.,...More

Korean Film Night lights up Cannes2011/05/18, Source, by KOFIC
The Korean Film Council in joint with the Busan International Film Festival, Pucheon International Fantastic Film Festival and Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism opened a "Korean Film Night" on May 16 at 9pm during the 64th Cannes Film Festival.
The three-hour event was much more vibrant than previous years, with a total 540 guests including directors, actors, programmers of major international film festivals and film distributors, including director Bong Joon-ho, the president of Camera d'Or jury and director Lee Chang-dong, the co-president of Critic's Week jury at Cannes this year,...More

Italy was once again awash with Korean colours at the 9th Florence Korean Film Festival.
This year the festival was able to secure a veritable whose who of Korean directors including Bong Joon-ho (,...More

[HanCinema Book Review] "New Korean Cinema" review2011/04/23,
"New Korean Cinema" is a collection of fascinating essays on contemporary Korean cinema. It contains a variety of different perspectives on the Korean film industry by a number of experienced contributors from around the world. The book examines the growth of Korea's film production industry, theoretical critiques of modern Korean films, as well as how social change has affected filmmaking in Korea.,...More

Won Bin, Ha Ji-won Sweep Popularity Stakes in Movie Poll2011/04/15, Source, Won Bin (left) and Ha Ji-wonWon Bin and Ha Ji-won were voted the most popular actor and actress in Korea in an email poll by the Chosun Ilbo and Korea's largest film ticketing site MaxMovie. Some 22,362 people voted from March 30 to April 5.
The two drew 16.2 and 10.9 percent of the votes, respectively. But Song Kang-ho and Jeon Do-yeon were chosen as the best as opposed to most popular actor and actress, with 17.7 and 21.8 percent of the votes.
Since the poll targeted online users of MaxMovie who had been to the cinema at least once last year, it probably reflects moviegoers' preferences more accurately than other surveys,...More

Bong Joon-ho, appointed judge for Cannes, Golden Camera Award2011/04/07, Source,
Director Bong Joon-ho has been appointed as a judge for the Golden Camera Award at the Cannes Movie Festival.
The movie executive office revealed on the 7th that director Bong was chosen to be the judge for the Golden Camera Award category at the 64th Cannes International Movie Festival. The Golden Camera Award goes to a rookie director for a feature film amongst the couple invited to the Awards this year.,...More

Korean cineastes sweep Asian Film Awards 2011/03/22, Source,
From left, actor Ha Jeong-woo, the winner of Best Actor award, Yoon Yeo-jeong, the winner of Best Supporting Actress award, and director Lee Chang-dong, the winner of Best Director award, pose with their trophies at the Asian Film Awards in Hong Kong, Monday. / AP-Yonhap By Lee Hyo-won
HONG KONG ― South Korean cineastes shone at the Asian Film Awards Monday, winning Best Director, Best Screenplay, Best Actor, Best Supporting Actress and Best Editing.
The fifth edition of the awards, held in conjunction with the Hong Kong International Film Festival, featured a tough competition among some of the most renowned Asian cineastes and the red carpet event beamed brighter than ever with the attendance of top stars. Yet it was marked by many absences in the aftermath of the disastrous earthquakes in Japan, and ovations were respectful rather than enthusiastic,...More

[HanCinema Korea's Diary] The Korean Film Archive (KOFA)2011/02/26, Source, The Korean Film Archive (KOFA) was founded in 1974 (then called "Korean Film Depository") and gained full membership into the FIAF (International Federation of Film Archives) in 1985. It serves to preserve, catalogue and showcase Korea's national cinema heritage. I recently visited them at their DMC Complex in Sangam-dong and will definitely be returning for another trip to learn about Korea's fascinating cinema history.,...More

Strong Korean Representation among Asian Film Awards Nominations2011/02/19, Source, "Poetry" Nominated for Best Film, Best Director & Best Screenplay
The 5th Asian Film Awards, to be presented March 21 in Hong Kong, is already starting to create buzz around its nominees.
The Awards' website explains: "Launched in 2007, the Asian Film Awards (AFA) is a pioneering program honoring filmmakers with outstanding achievements in the field of Asian cinema. The AFA is the only platform in the world that brings together the best cinematic talents of Asia, drawing film fans and professionals from all across the globe. The AFA Presentation Ceremony takes place as part of the Entertainment Expo Hong Kong Opening Gala,...More

Pusan Film Festival Expands Asian Cooperation2011/02/17, Source,
The February 16 edition of Film Business Asia reports that Korea's Pusan International Film Festival and the Mumbai Film Festival in India have signed a memorandum of understanding on "artistic, financial and educational exchanges and mutual collaboration",...More

Korean Presence at Rotterdam International Film Festival2011/01/26, Source, The International Film Festival Rotterdam (IFFR) describes itself as offering "a quality selection of independent, innovative and experimental cinema, video and media art". Celebrating its 40th edition this year, IFFR will run January 26-February 6.
Rotterdam's Bright Future section, featuring "first or second films by filmmakers from whom the festival expects a lot in the future" is comprised of 80 titles selected from 38 countries this year,...More

[HanCinema's Film Review] Poetry2011/01/21, Humanising, touching and beautiful, "Poetry" (2010), directed by Lee Chang-dong, is a deeply real film that engages the heart on many levels. This artfully-constructed film lures you in with its sense of realism that just isn't showcased enough in film.,...More

Pans & Tilts - Mumbai Film Festival: Fulfilling and Frustrating2010/11/02, Source, By Gautaman Bhaskaran
South Asia Editor
The recent Mumbai Film Festival cannot be faulted at least on one very important score. Its selections are outstanding. Undoubtedly. At least they have been so since the Festival last year, when Reliance Big Entertainment took over and Srinivasan Narayanan s,...More

Actor Jeong Woo-seong's Movie Picks2010/10/25, Source,
Actor Jeong Woo-seong [10Asia]
Where would each South Korean actor rank if lined up by order of interviewee capability? There are definitely more than a few names that would make the list but actor Jeong Woo-seong without doubt would be one of them leading the pack. Our conversation with him did not concentrate merely on recent issues such as his latest film "Reigns of Assassin" or his visit to the Venice Film Festival. The answers he put forth rather made the listener chase after the thoughts he holds within his mind. "You're not considered awake just because your eyes are open or you're speaking. I think what's important is that you keep looking back on what you think instead of letting a single thought settle in your mind,...More

2010 KOFFIA KOREAN FILM FESTIVAL IN AUSTRALIA (1 October - 5 October)2010/09/29, Source,
The 1st KOFFIA Korean Film Festival In Australia is just around the corner. The inaugural KOFFIA presents 8 dynamic and diverse contemporary Korean films alongside free cultural events and guest speaker programs. From 1 - 5 October, Australians will get a taste of cinematic talent from Korea. The best of Korean drama, action, comedy, pop and documentary films will be on show over the long weekend,...More

Veteran actress Yoon Jung-hee, who made a comeback through the critically acclaimed film,...More

[10LINE] Korean actress Jeon Do-yeon2010/05/28, Source,
Clockwise from top center: actress Lee Hye-yeong, actress Moon So-ri,director Lee Chang-dong, actor Song Kang-ho, and director Lim Sang-soo [10Asia]
Jeon Do-yeon "A friend who says she wants to become like me so badly that she will seal the deal at the risk of her future has only seen the pretty and fancy side to me. It's not difficult to become like me. It's just hard for someone to want to become like you". - Jeon Do-yeon's line from her cameo appearance on SBS TV series "On Air". About life as an actress. About life as Jeon Do-yeon. Kang Shin-hye A reporter who worked for teenage magazine Hi-teen in 1990. She encouraged Jeon, who during her senior year in high school went to the magazine to receive a prize from a postcard contest, to become a cover model,...More

[INTERVIEW] Hong Sang-soo - Part 32010/05/24, Source,
Director Hong Sang-soo [Beck Una/10Asia]Beck Una: The characters in "Ha Ha Ha" write poems, read poems and give poems to others as gifts. I don't know if it's because I watched director Lee Chang-dong's new film "Poetry" yesterday but I rethought about poems. I mean, writing poems is actually an act which we are quite unaccustomed to other than having written them in school. Hong Sang-soo: Is that so? Don't people write poems? Beck: Do you write poems? Hong: Yes, occasionally. It's not really a big deal. For example, first line, an ashtray is transparent. Second line, the table is yellow. Or the ashtray is standing up but the table is laying down. Doesn't even that make it seem strange? Beck: Hm... It does seem to create some kind of meaning in between the lines,...More

[INTERVIEW] Yoon Jung-hee - Part 12010/05/20, Source, Yoon Jung-hee says ""Poetry" is worthy of winning best picture at Cannes"
Veteran Korean actress Yoon Jung-hee [photographed by Chae Ki-won/10Asia]
Here is a truly unbelievable story that one must believe. When Yoon Jung-hee was at the peak of her popularity in her career, she won an award at a film festival and went on a car parade in downtown Seoul. And what is even more unbelievable is that she left that popularity behind and left for France as she had planned. She was the biggest star to have graced the history of Korean film, an actress who keeps getting scripts even after she went to France and still has a fan club. And she chose director Lee Chang-dong's "Poetry" as her comeback movie, her first in fifteen years. What kind of a life does this actress live? We asked Yoon Jung-hee about her life and her films. Q: You have been doing a lot of interviews with the press in time with the opening of film "Poetry". This kind of an experience is a first for you, isn't it? Yoon: It is a first. When I was at the top of my game, I didn't have time and in many cases, reporters would come to the set or come in groups. But with this movie, I felt like it was my responsibility to truly inform people about this wonderful movie rather than just loving "Poetry" and leaving it after I had finished my work as an actress. I am learning a lot of new things doing interviews with new people, so I like it,...More

[INTERVIEW] Yoon Jung-hee - Part 22010/05/20, Source,
Veteran Korean actress Yoon Jung-hee [Chae Ki-won/10Asia] Q: What did director Lee Chang-dong tell you about your acting? Yoon: I really liked how he coached me on my acting. He wrote the script, directed the film and even offered various ideas of Mi-ja that he had imagined of. During my conversations with director Lee Chang-dong, I was able to see a side of Yoon Jung-hee that I had not known about. We talked a lot and got along very well, so we were able to work hard on the film. Even in the scene that I shot thirty-five times, I could keep immersing myself into the character because I had something in common with her. Like Mi-ja, I too sometimes lose myself and become self-absorbed. (laugh) Another similarity is that I don't take anything in life for granted, not even the smallest thing, and I can lose myself in the beauty of it,...More

"Poetry" wins rave reviews at Cannes screening2010/05/20, Source,
The cast and director of "Poetry" at the 63rd Cannes Film Festival [Asia Economic Daily]
Korean film "Poetry", competing at the Cannes Film Festival this year, won favorable reviews at its first screenings yesterday.
The movie was first screened in the morning at the Grand Theatre Lumiere attended by some 2,000 viewers composed of film journalists and industry officials from around the world.
Most of the audience remained until the ending credits went up despite its long running time of 139 minutes although a few people were seen exiting the theater toward the end of the film,...More

Lim Sang-soo says Jeon Do-yeon is "full-fledged artist"2010/05/04, Source,
From left, "The Housemaid - 2010" cast Lee Jeong-jae, Seo Woo, Yoon Yeo-jeong, Jeon Do-yeon and director Lim Sang-soo pose during a press screening held at the COEX Megabox Multiplex theater in Seoul, South Korea on May 3, 2010. [Chae Ki-won/10Asia]
What opened film "The Housemaid - 2010" was not the majestic mansion nor the elegant trail of a noblewoman's skirt we had seen through the still images or previews of the film revealed up till now. The film rather draws on women in a hurriedly-set up food alley in a new city who are cooking meat or handing out flyers to passers-by. And the moment the camera focuses on Eun-yi (played by Jeon Do-yeon), the only character who is seen smiling, one starts to feel an anticipation mixed with anxiety to see how this seemingly innocent female will change once she wears the clothes of a housemaid. Like director Lim Sang-soo said -- "I believe it isn't a remake of the original film" -- the new version of "The Housemaid - 1960" revealed at a press screening on Monday was quite different from the original production helmed by the late director Kim Ki-young. The 2010 version of "The Housemaid - 1960", which adopts its characters from its original film from 50 years ago, strongly poses the question of what it means to live like a human being by depicting on Eun-yi's struggles. Below are excerpts from the press screening of the film which is set for release on May 13,...More

As the only Indian work at the Cannes Film Festival that runs from May 12 to 23, Vikramaditya Motwane's "Udaan" certainly holds a special place. It may not be part of the top Competition slot, but having been chosen after a long Indian hiatus at wha,...More

Lee Chang-dong hopes "Poetry" will instill dreams2010/04/20, Source,
From left, actress Yoon Jung-hee and director Lee Chang-dong pose at a photo session of a press conference for film "Poetry" held at a CJ CGV theater in Seoul, South Korea on April 14, 2010. [Chae Ki-won/10Asia]
"Did you go easy on me on purpose because you didn't want me to have a tough time?" "Do I look like I'm that nice of a guy?" This was the dialogue between the main star and director of film "Poetry" as seen in video containing behind-the-scenes footage revealed at a press conference on April 14. And the two were none other than Yoon Jung-hee, who had been in a 15-year hiatus after having appeared in over 300 films during 40 years of her career and director Lee Chang-dong, who has made Korean film history starting from "Green Fish" to "Secret Sunshine". Below are excerpts from the press conference held at a CJ CGV theater emceed by actor Ahn Nae-sang,...More

Seo Yeong-hee invited to Cannes film fest2010/04/20, Source,
Korean actress Seo Yeong-hee
Korean actress Seo Yeong-hee has been invited to the 63rd Cannes Film Festival next month for her latest film "Bedevilled", according to the film's production company Pilma Pictures.
Pilma Pictures announced in a press release on Monday that the actress, who recently starred in the thriller pic, will be attending the event as the film will be shown in the Critics' Week section.
In "Bedevilled", about seven people getting brutally murdered on a small island, Seo plays an innocent woman who, affected by the murders, changes into a cruel person,...More

"Poetry", "Housemaid" to compete at Cannes Film Festival2010/04/16, Source,
Movie posters of "Poetry" and "The Housemaid - 2010" [Uni-korea and Sidus F&H]
Korean films "Poetry" and "The Housemaid - 2010" have been announced as entries in the official competition for this year's Cannes Film Festival, according to their respective production companies on Friday.
The final list was unveiled Friday by Thierry Fremaux, the artistic director of Cannes, revealing that Lee Chang-dong's drama "Poetry" and Im Sang-soo's "The Housemaid - 2010" will be competing up against other noteworthy films in the annual fest which kicks off May 12.
"We had high expectations for "Poetry" the moment director Lee received an email from Fremaux who wrote to him after reading the translated script and said the movie is sophisticated yet simple", executive director Park Min-jung of Uni-korea explained,...More

Lee Chang-dong is expected to offer a more poetic sensibility in his new feature film. The appropriately n,...More

[INTERVIEW] Actor Song Kang-ho - Part 22010/03/04, Source,
Actor Song Kang-ho [photographed by Beck Una/10Asia]
Beck: What did you find likeable and entertaining about the script for "Secret Reunion"? Song: Ten years ago, I did the films "Shiri" and "JSA - Joint Security Area" which are both about South Korea, North Korea and men. So, "Secret Reunion" was similar to them in a way, a similar story, but the overall outline of the movie is completely different from the previous films. The film doesn't treat the South-North division as its theme but rather takes an incredibly soft, light and sophisticated approach to it. I thought that was closer to how the audience currently feels about the division and there was something lovely about a North Korean spy and a former South Korean intelligence service agent living together. I don't think I would have done the movie if it dealt seriously about the division at times like now.
Beck:But didn't you choose to do the film because of the character or the role you would get to take on?,...More

Eight Korean films to show at Berlin film fest2010/02/10, Source,
Korean films "Actresses" (left) and "The Naked Kitchen" (Right)
Eight Korean films -- including "Actresses", "The Naked Kitchen" and "A Brand New Life" -- are up for presentation at the 60th Berlin International Film Festival, which kicks off in Germany on Thursday.
This year, the film festival -- which is considered one of the most prestigious film events in Europe alongside Cannes, Venice and Rotterdam -- will show more than 400 films from around the world.
In addition to the following Korean movies invited to the film fest, two Asian productions have also been selected for the opening and closing films; "Apart Together", directed by Chinese filmmaker Wang Quan'an to open the event while Japanese film "Younger Brother" by Yoji Yamada will close the festival on February 21.,...More

Song Kang-ho's New Movie 'Secret Reunion'2010/01/17, Source,
In an interview at a hotel in Sokong-dong, actor Song Kang-ho said, "First of all, I could easily identify my own personality with the character I played in the movie ‘Secret Reunion' better than in any of my other movies. The character of Han-kyu in Secret Reunion seems to me to be a mix of previous characters I played before, including Doo-man ("Memories of Murder") and Kyung-pil ("JSA - Joint Security Area"). I think that my character Han-kyu is a unique character, but I also used several of my previous characters from my other movies to influence the character 'Han-kyu'. I see my role as Han-kyu to be an assorted gift of my acting experiences for my fans. I tried to show the essence of my acting through Han-kyu and to express him as a father and a husband in his daily life, even though Han-kyu is an agent of the National Intelligence Service (laughing)".
Song, who has gained growing popularity and recognition for his acting credentials, plays Han-kyu, a former agent of the NIS in the movie "Secret Reunion", which is the second movie by director Jang Hoon, whose first project as the main director was "A Movie is a Movie". "Secret Reunion" will be released on February 4.,...More

[INTERVIEW] Actor Seol Kyeong-gu (Part 2)2010/01/11, Source,
Actor Seol Kyeong-gu [Beck Una/10Asia]Beck Una (Beck): And that is when you decided to take the civil service examination. Seol Kyeong-gu (Seol): Haha. Let me explain that to you. I was dying to leave the Hanyang Repertory. I'd already graduated but that place was an extension of school while I wanted to meet a larger variety of people. I didn't think they'd let me go for no reason so I lied that I'm going to take the civil service exam. (laugh) But what's so spontaneous about me is that although I had left because I didn't like it, I didn't have anything to do right away. And I needed money but I didn't want to ask my parents for it so I ended up asking a senior of mine to give me a part-time job putting up posters. The interesting thing is that I ended up staying in the industry. Of course, if I had really taken off, I might have ended up becoming human trash. (laugh) Anyway, I had been at the job for about a month and a half? I was suddenly asked if I would want to take part in the musical "Line 1". Mr. Kim Min-ki had seen me about, putting up the posters and asked me if I would want to take part thinking that I'm hardworking. That had been my audition for it. Me and actors from all walks of life with all sorts of experience rehearsed for three months and wow, it was so much fun. That was the start of "Line 1". It also did very well. Before I took on film "Girls' Night Out", I was making two million won per month and drove a Sephia. (laugh) But after "Line 1", I had no work at all. That's when scenarist Lee Seon-mi, who used to do plays, recommended me to writer Jeong Seong-joo. And that is how I got to become part of the cast for morning TV series "Sisters". I think I'm a very person when it comes to human relationships. Beck: Did you not think of taking on dramas after "Sisters"? Seol: Why wouldn't I have? I was also asked to quite a lot. Not official auditions but one-on-one. But you know how you get glanced at from head to toe? I really hated the look they gave me when they do that. So after "Girls' Night Out" and then "Rainbow Trout", a man called Lee Chang-dong called me. Beck: After he watched "Girls' Night Out"?,...More

Two Korean Classics to be Remade2009/11/13, Source, Two Korean classic films from 2 prolific Korean directors whose films were part of and contributed to the famous Golden Age of Korean cinema are about to be remade. This period between the 1960's and 1970's helped lay the ground work for many of today's modern directors. The original ",...More

The renowned actor and actress plan to announce their scheduled wedding at Litz-Carlton Hotel in southe,...More

62nd Cannes Selects 9 Korean Films2009/05/08, Source, A total of 9 Korean films including 5 features have been invited to the official line-up of the 62nd Cannes Film Festival, which runs May 13 – 24 in the famed coastal city of southern France. Headlining the robust range of Korean films this year is,...More

Top Korean movie directors have been invited to the prestigious Cannes Film Festival running from May 13 to 24.

The festival delegation announced the list of this year's competitors and jury members Thursday through the festival's official Web site ― they,...More

Wisconsin Film Fest Focuses on Korea2009/04/16, Source, The 11th Wisconsin Film Festival, held annually at the University of Wisconsin in the U.S., presents a 'Focus on South Korea' for its 2009 edition running April 2 – 5. Five critically acclaimed Korean features will screen during the event along with one Canadian-Korean short film.

Korean Film Festival Tours China2008/11/19, Source, A Korean Film Festival will be held across China this month, bringing 12 Korean features to three major Chinese cities – Beijing (Nov. 14-19), Shanghai (Nov. 16-21) and Kunnming (Nov. 25-28).

The event, organized by the Korean Film Council, China's state film authorities, and the Shanghai Inter,...More

The movie theater always provides escapism, and can be a haven ― air-conditioned and entertaining ― from the sultry summer heat. But don't hide from the sun ― why not enjoy a break filled with cinema,...More

The 44th PaekSang Arts Awards Sparkles with Stars 2008/04/24, Source, Korean TV and film stars gathered together for The 44th PaekSang Arts Awards Thursday evening in Seoul. The Awards honors filmmakers, TV actors and actresses, producers and programs that made distinguishing marks in the field of visual media arts.

Yoo must show direction as minister2008/02/20, Source, "To be or not to be" is no longer the question for Yoo In-chon, a former drama actor whose favorite lines are from Hamlet's soliloquy. He has now been chosen as the culture minister of the Lee Myung-bak administration, confirming expectations. Now the real question is whether he will become a compet,...More

In conclusion, the interrelationship is inverse proportion according to the trend in 2007 box-office success in Korean film industry. Among the 100 movies released this year, only 4 movies had more than,...More

Asia Pacific Screen Awards Winners Announced2007/11/14, Source, Winners in the inaugural Asia Pacific Screen Awards, the region's highest accolade in film in 2007, were announced tonight at a special ceremony on the Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia. Over 500 film industry luminaries from the Asia-Pacific region, Europe and the United States attended the ceremon,...More

Short Films' Showcase in Seoul Judged by LEE Chang-dong2007/10/24, Source, Korea's singular competitive and international short film festival Asiana International Short Film Festival 2007 (AISFF2007, www.aisff.org/) will present short films from around the world from November 1 and will end its run on November 6. The short films will be shown in Cinecube, located in Seoul',...More

Korean Films Shine at PIFF 2007/10/16, Source, The twelfth annual Pusan International Film Festival was a bountiful showcase for Korean films. Joining the international competition were many types of Korean films, including: big budget, independent, experimental, documentary, short, and re-mastered classics. The struggling Korean film industry s,...More

PIFF: magnet for Asian stars, fans2007/10/08, Source, The 12th Pusan International Film Festival, which kicked off its nine-day schedule on Thursday, attracted star-gazers from all over the country, with numerous actors and filmmakers hitting key venues amid the festive mood.

The festival, featuring 275 films from 64 countries, got into full swing o,...More

BUSAN _ The Korean Peninsula is sizzling up with not one but two hot spots. Deep south in Korea's largest port city, the 12th Pusan (Busan) International Film Festival (PIFF) turned into a cinephile's playground as the festive opening event unrolled Thursday night.,...More

While 23 captives were shivering with growing fear in the hands of Taliban, a Korean site intentionally distributed images mocking a famous Islam prophet and posted the fact that no one was in fact a real doctor or nurse among the Saemmul church medical service volunte,...More

2007 PIFF goes 'Beyond Frame'2007/10/03, Source, The 12th Pusan International Film Festival will kick off tomorrow in the southeastern port city, featuring 274 films from 64 countries with its focus placed on rediscovering and promoting Asian cinema.

"PIFF is widely regarded as Asia's most important film festival, and I personally feel the impa,...More

Cinema of harsh reality at Pusan Film Festival2007/09/05, Source, The Pusan International Film Festival, one of the biggest film festivals in Asia, will celebrate its 12th year in October with a cascade of Asian films, many of them portraying individuals grappling with modern-day issues like war, family fall-out and urban poverty, according to Yonhap News Agency.,...More

A retrospective honoring the late Taiwanese director Edward Yang will be held at next month's 2007 Pusan International Film Festival. The complete lineup was also announced Tuesday.

While the deaths of film directors Michelangelo Antonioni and Ingmar Bergman wer,...More

PIFF's Promising Line-up Sets Records2007/09/04, Source, The Pusan International Film Festival (PIFF) will continue its progress with 275 films and a record number of 193 premieres and the inauguration of new programs. PIFF's flagship New Currents competition boasts a complete selection of eleven world and international premieres. The 12th edition of Asia,...More

12th PIFF Names Jury and Awardees2007/08/28, Source, The 12th Pusan International Film Festival (PIFF) has announced that Iranian director Dariush MEHRJUI is to head the jury of this year's New Currents awards section during the upcoming event which tak,...More

A Fresh Start for Korean Cinema: Overview of the First Half of 20072007/07/23, Source, Korean films have delved into new topics and covered a wide range of genres the first half of the year. Coming off of a disappointing year at the box office, the Korean film industry has answered with a number of truly noteworthy works of art. Although many of the films released this year were fun,...More

Korean movies falter in first half of 20072007/07/16, Source, In the first half of this year, the combined share of Korean films fell to 47.3 percent, marking the lowest level since 2001. The continued drop in market share, partly prompted by the relatively stronger performance of Hollywood blockbusters, is now sounding alarms in the domestic film industry.

How Will Korean Films Do at Cannes?2007/05/19, Source, Turning to the cultural scene - Two Korean works are competing with 20 other films at this year's Cannes Film Festival vying for the coveted Palme d'Or prize.
Son Heekyung explains what their chances are at one of the world's most prestigious film events.
The 12-day annual film festival is rolling,...More

Two Korean Movies to be Screened in Cannes Film Festival2007/05/17, Source, And staying in France.
The Cannes Film Festival proudly flashed its global credentials Wednesday as it lifted the curtain on its 60th edition with stars, screenings and lavish parties.
Also two Korean movies are poised to compete in the main event this year.
",...More

The Taegeukgi will be flying high over the Croisette as the 60th Festival de Cannes, the creme de la creme of international film festivals, opens today. Over 20 films are competing for the much-coveted Palme d'Or, and two out of the four competing Asian titles are K,...More

Market Share Recovers After March Dip2007/04/19, Source, March, a slow month for ticket sales generally in Korea, marked one of the weakest months for Korean box office share since December of 2004. The domestic market share dropped to 21.6% last month, raising concerns in the wake of last year's reduction of the Screen Quota system which guarantees scre,...More

Jean-Marie Gustave Le Clezio is a French writer whose name often appears on pundits' lists of candidates for the Nobel Prize for Literature along with South Korean poet Ko Un. He is also one of the French writers who have a peculiar hold on the Korean literary cir,...More

ROME _ After a year when they were excluded from the three main international competitions _ Cannes, Venice, Berlin _ Korean films are set for a dramatic comeback on the international festival circuit in 2007. While new efforts by directors,...More

The number of films produced last year was 108, the most ever in Korean cinematic history, and many of them were feature debut works by emerging directors. But more familiar names will be seen at the box office this year as many renowned directors are preparing to,...More

"On April 26, The Host was been invited to the Director's Fortnight at the 59th Cannes Film Fest,...More

Korean Film Directors series published by KOFIC2006/04/04, Source, To increase the international standing of Korean film directors and to promote the international circulation of Korean films, KOFIC announces the publication of the first three books in the Korean Film Directors series. By publishing this series, KOFIC aims to help Korean films and Korean film direc,...More

Zhang Lu is a respected author of prize-winning novels and short stories in his native land of China. A mainlander of Sino-Korean descent, Zhang ventured into filmmaking first as a screenplay writer and th,...More

Korea Crowds out Hollywood in Japan's Top 10 of Foreign Movies2005/01/07, Source, Four of the Top 10 foreign films in Japan for 2004 came from Korea, according to a list compiled by the nation's leading movie magazine "Kinema Junbo".
The magazine's annual roundup of the cream of the foreign film crop is selected by film critics and viewer's votes. It is one of the most prestigi,...More

[Local and Foreign Films With English Subtitles]2004/11/25, Source, ■ Sisily 2 km (2004)
At noon on Nov. 27
Seoul Selection Bookstore
Combining two different movie genres _ horror film and gangster comedy, the film "Sisily 2 km" is a story about a group of gangsters struggling to find a betrayer who runs away with diamonds. Yang-I (,...More

[Local Films With English Subtitles]2004/11/04, Source, ■ `New Korean Connection'
Korean Film Archive
Until Friday
Critically acclaimed feature and short films from the last five years are being shown at the theater of the archive, located in Seoul Arts Center, southern Seoul. All screenings are free. Located near Nambu Bus Terminal Station, s,...More

Two English-subtitled film festivals for expats in Korea2004/11/01, Source, Korean movies are riding a wave of popularity, with noticible artistic and commercial appeal brought on by a new generation of stylish directors grabbing prizes in major international film festivals. For foreign residents in Korea, two events provide a chance to enjoy some quality offerings - with E,...More

If you want to get a free crash course in contemporary Korean cinema, check out the Korea Film Archive all next week.

Twelve critically acclaimed feature films from the past five years, along with 13 short films, will be shown for five days beginning Nov. 1 at th,...More

New York Celebrates 60th Anniversary of Korean Film2004/10/15, Source, On the heels of a newfound interest in Korean films abroad, cinematic masterpieces from Korea will be presented in New York. The Film Society of the Lincoln Center would hold a special event commemorating 60 years of Korean film, from Nov. 12 though Dec. 7, the Korean Culture Service in New York sai,...More

Kim Ki-duk Awarded Silver Lion in Venice2004/09/12, Source, Director of "Empty House", Kim Ki-duk was awarded the Silver Lion as Best Director at the competition sector of the 61st Venice International Film Festival, "Venecia 61". The festival concluded Saturday (local time) in Venice, Italy.
Kim had a,...More

Film People Meet Over Screen Quota2004/06/16, Source, By Joon Soh
Staff Reporter
Members of the film industry on Wednesday held what is sure to be the first of many emergency meetings to discuss how to respond to the Ministry of Culture and Tourism's decision to change the current quota system protecting domestic films.

Love blooms amid desert of frustration in 'Oasis' 2004/04/30, Source, By John Scott Marchant
History is littered with great affairs of the heart: Marc Antony and Cleopatra, Edward and Mrs. Simpson, Bogie and Bacall, Puffy and J-Lo (much to Ben's chagrin). The list goes on and on. Yet you don't need to be a card-carrying member of the rich and famous to enjoy a roman,...More

CJ Entertainment CEO named 'power leader'2003/12/31, Source, Reflecting a year in which Korean films reached new heights, CJ Entertainment CEO Park Dong-ho was named the pop culture "power leader" of 2003 by The Herald Business, a sister newspaper of The Korea Herald.

CJ Entertainment, a film investment and distribution company, claimed 20.6 percent of th,...More

Memories of murderous success in 20032003/12/18, Source, This was a very good year for Korean cinema. Perhaps actress Moon So-ri said it best at a screening of one of her films in Paris: "French cinema has a history of over 100 years, but not Korea. If France is an adult, Korea is a child. But it is a,...More

Film industry vows to defend screen quota 2003/11/08, Source, Following a series of recent comments by government officials suggesting an intention to reduce the screen quota system, the film industry responded Thursday by demanding an open debate and declaring readiness to take strong action.

"The United States is mobilizing its pro-American network in Ko,...More

Eleven Korean features to screen at Vancouver2003/09/19, Source, Eleven feature films and five short films from Korea will screen in the upcoming Vancouver International Film Festival, scheduled to take place from 25 September to October 10. Programmed by British film critic Tony RAYNS, the selection features a wide range of critically acclaimed arthouse work and,...More

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